In a Maze...

Chapter 11

Mark left Jinyoung's apartment in the early morning the next day, and did not appear again there for the rest of the day. But the following day, which was Sunday, he was there, pressing the doorbell.

"Do you have any plan for today?" he asked, as Jinyoung opened the door for him."Not really."

"Then, get ready. We're going out soon."

Jinyoung looked at him, a bit confused; Mark had never initiated that kind of thing before. It had always been Jinyoung, who would ask Mark to accompany him somewhere, outside.

Mark entered the apartment and said, "Anywhere you want to go. I've made myself available for the whole day."

"Why?" Jinyoung asked, "I don't remember telling you that I want to go out today."

Mark smiled, "True, you didn't. I just thought it'd be a good idea to take you out. I'm thinking of showing you that life isn't as dull as you assume. Just go and prepare yourself. The faster, the better."

Half an hour later, both of them were in Mark's car, which was heading out of the basement car park. The sky was clear and the sunshine was fairly bright outside. Today seemed more wonderful, in Mark's eyes. He was, actually, on his duty, but when it involved watching Jinyoung, it did not matter, where they went or what they did.

"Where do you want to go?"

"I don't know," Jinyoung muttered, "I've no idea."

"Do you mind crowded places?"

"I do. But if you've one on your mind, just go there. I don't think you've chosen a terrible place."

So Mark drove to Namdaemun market, pretty sure that Jinyoung rarely visited such kinds of places. His intention was to let Jinyoung enjoy non-routine things.

"I kind of expected this," Jinyoung said, with a chuckle, when Mark parked the car in a public car park, not far away from the market.

"You knew I was taking you here?"

"I could imagine only market and amusement park when you said 'crowded places'."

"There're a lot of other crowded places in the city, Jinyoung."

"Are you upset that I'm not surprised?"

Mark laughed, shaking his head, and motioned to Jinyoung to get out of the car. Walking side by side, they headed for the market, which was bustling in sight.

"What can we do there?" Jinyoung asked.

"Buying things, of course. Or just wandering around. And then eat something for lunch. You know, just looking at all those things on display would be entertaining enough."

"Do you come here very often? Perhaps, with someone?"

Mark threw a sidelong glance at Jinyoung, who was looking at him searchingly.

"No, it's been a while since the last time I was here. I agree that when it comes to a casual date, this place will do. But I've no one, anyway. I'll pretend that it's a date now," said Mark, with a laugh.

"We're guys," Jinyoung muttered.

"That's why it feels more real."

Jinyoung stopped on his track, abruptly, which made Mark halt as well. Upon meeting Jinyoung's puzzled eyes, Mark just gave him a shrug.

"I think so, too," Jinyoung said, as quietly as it could be, but Mark heard it clearly.

"Come on. Let's go." A few minutes later, they were distracted by a variety of things in the market and the shopkeepers calling their attention. Jinyoung seemed to be fascinated by them and Mark could let out a relieved sigh.

They stopped by a few shops and Jinyoung communicated with the sellers, which made Mark watch him, like a proud parent. But Jinyoung was still empty-handed when they settled themselves in a diner for lunch. They had their rice meals with the grilled lobsters, and kiwi juices. The food met their satisfaction, exceedingly, probably because they had been so hungry and tired, by walking for long.

It was already around 2pm when they left the diner. A few more shops and the market was already at its end.

"Where do you want to go now? Want to go shopping?"

"Aren't we doing that now?"

"I mean, real shopping in a mall. It's fascinating to watch you shop. But why did you buy nothing? Things here are, I'm sure, value for money."

"I just couldn't decide what to buy. I've nothing in my mind."

"You'll find something in a mall."

They retreated back to the car and then were on the way to COEX mall. Later, they had a stroll in the mall. Jinyoung bought a few suits and they continued to a necktie store.

Mark noted that Jinyoung seemed more experienced in buying those things. He had a good taste for neckties but once or twice, he would turn to Mark and ask him to suggest one. A salesgirl was helping them as they moved to sections after sections.

Mark was quite ignorant of the surrounding as his attention was on Jinyoung's buying process. But it was an instinct he felt that there was someone else, whose attention was on them. He shot glances around the whole shop and then the outside, but nothing unusual was in sight and no one was watching them.

He disregarded his suspicion and turned his attention back to Jinyoung. But only a few seconds passed and he was nudged by the same feeling again. Yet again, he caught no one staring at them. But he got on his guard and took Jinyoung outside as soon as he finished. The intensity Mark was feeling, grew once they were out of the shop.

The rest of the shopping, Mark was busy making sure no one was following them, and yet subtly, not to alarm Jinyoung. They had the dinner in a restaurant inside the mall. On the way back to Jinyoung's apartment, Mark was distracted and numerous thoughts were swinging inside his head.